Suspected pirates attacked and abducted four sailors on a supply vessel in 40 nautical miles (74 km) from the coastline, Bayelsa region in southern Nigeria, an International Maritime Bureau statement said on Monday.

Pirates armed with guns attacked, boarded an offshore supply vessel underway and kidnapped four crew members, the statement added.

According to the statement, no injuries were caused to crew members and vessel continued passage to a safe port.

Piracy and armed robbery in the gulf have been increasing in recent years, drawing the attention of the international community.